Deodorant releasing device for toilets



p 1956 G. FERRANDO 2,761,151

DEODORANT RELEASING DEVICE FOR TOILETS Filed Aug. 2, 1955 INVENTOR. G/USEPPE FERRA/VDO BY 213K5 1 J 16 fi MM A TTO/P/VEY United States Patent Oflflce 2,761,151 Patented Sept. 4, 1956 2,761,151 DEODORANT RELEASIN G DEVICE FOR TOILETS Giuseppe Ferrando, Atherton, Calif. Application August 2, 1955, Serial No. 525,845 2 Claims. (Cl. 4-225) This invention relates to improvements in toilets, and more particularly to an automatic deodorant releasing device for toilets.

The present invention provides an improved accessory for toilets, one which is adapted to release a deodorant into water discharged into a toilet bowl.

The object and general nature of this invention is the provision of a device adapted to be readily mounted on the upright overflow pipe of a toilet and which operates automatically to release a small quantity of liquid deodorant into water discharged into the toilet bowl each time the toilet is flushed.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed out hereinafter, or will be indicated in the appended claims or will be obvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the present disclosure. For the purpose of this application, I have elected to show herein certain forms and details of a deodorant releasing device representative of my invention; it is to be understood, however, that the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is for illustration purposes only, and that therefore it is not to be regarded as exhaustive of the variations of the inven tion.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken through the water tank of a toilet, showing the operating parts of the toilet and my improved deodorant releasing device or apparatus in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken through the deodorant releasing device, showing the valve member in a closed position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the valve member open; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the water tank of a toilet, having an outlet 2 in its bottom side through which water is discharged into a toilet bowl in the usual manner. The water inlet means, the float for shutting oif the water entering the tank, and the means for releasing the water from the tank into the toilet bowl are all mounted in the tank in the usual manner, and a description thereof in detail is not considered necessary for an understanding of the present invention. Mounted in the tank and connected at its lower end to the outlet leading to the toilet bowl is an upstanding overflow pipe 3 having a water inlet pipe 4 arranged to discharge water into its upper end, both of which constitute parts of an ordinary toilet.

Supported on the upper end of the overflow pipe 3 and arranged in telescopic relationship therewith is an outer tube 5 having its upper end internally threaded and connected to an externally threaded insert or disc 6 which fits inside an opening in the bottom of a container 7 adapted to hold a supply of liquid deodorant. The insert 6 is formed with an annular flange 611 on its upper side which engages with the upper surface of the bottom of the container 7. The upper end of the tube 5 bears against a washer which in turn is pressed against the lower surface of the bottom of the deodorant container 7 One or more holes 8 are preferably arranged in the upper part of the outer tube 5, and a vertical slot 9 open at its lower end is also provided in the outer tube, such slot being slightly wider than the diameter of the water inlet pipe 4.

Mounted for vertical reciprocating movement is a connecting rod 10 which extends through an oversize axial opening 11 in the insert 6. The opening 1.1 is adapted to allow liquid deodorant to flow from the container 7 into the outer tube 5 when a valve member 12 secured to the connecting rod 10 is in an open position. The valve member 12 is in the form of a ring shaped disc, although it may also assume other forms, and when the connecting rod 10 is in its upward normal position, the valve member will seat against the lower surface of the bottom of the container 7 and close the opening 11 therein;

Urging the connecting rod 10 upwardly is a yieldable coiled spiral spring 13 which is held under suitable tension between the bottom of the container 7 and a stationary disc 14 or other means carried on the upper end of the connecting rod.

The lower end of the connecting rod 10 is connected to a spider 14' secured to the upper end of an elongated cylindrical container or receptacle 15 which has a liquid inlet opening at its upper end and which is closed .at its lower end except for one or more small liquid outlet openings 16 in its side walls or bottom. The openings or opening 16 at the lower end portion of the cylindrical container 15 are adapted to release liquid from the container at a slower rate than that at which liquid enters its upper end. The cylindrical container 15 is mounted for up and down movement in the overflow pipe 3 and its longitudinal cylindrical walls are suitably spaced from the sides of the overflow pipe.

In operation, when the toilet is flushed and water is discharged from the tank 2 into the toilet bowl, the valve (not shown) controlling the flow of water through the inlet pipe 4 is opened and water is admitted into the upper end of the overflow pipe 3, or such water discharged by the inlet pipe flows directly through the opening in the upper end of the cylindrical container 15. Unless the outlet end of the inlet pipe 4 is arranged to discharge water directly into the container 15, the annular opening between the cylindrical sides of the container and the sides of the overflow pipe 3 should be such that a less amount of Water is allowed to flow through such annular opening than enters the upper end of the overflow pipe, and in such an event a substantial amount of the incoming water will then enter the opening in the upper end of the cylindrical container. When the cylindrical container 15 has received a predetermined amount of water and its weight is suitably increased, it will overcome the pressure in an upward direction of the spiral spring 13 and drop downwardly, thereby unseating and opening the valve member 12. With the opening of the valve member 12, liquid deodorant from the container 7 flows downward through the axial opening 11 and a substantial amount thereof enters the cylindrical container 15. As the flushing of the toilet terminates and water is evacuated from the tank 1 and the overflow pipe 3 into the toilet bowl, the liquid in the cylindrical container 15 is slowly discharged through the small openings 16 into the overflow pipe 3, from whence it flows into the toilet bowl. The liquid in the cylindrical container 15 contains a substantial amount of the liquid deodorant released from the container 7, and since the toilet flushing operation is substantially completed before most of the liquid discharged from the cylindrical container reaches the toilet bowl, 8. suflicient amount of the deodorant will remain in the toilet bowl until the next flushing operation, to deodorize the bowl.

As the liquid in the cylindrical container 15 is discharged and the overall weight of such container and the liquid therein lessens to a predetermined extent, the spiral spring 13 exerting an upward pull on the connecting rod 10 will cause the valve member 12 to close the opening 11 and thereby discontinue the flow of deodorant through the opening.

What I claim is:

1. In a deodorant releasing device for toilets, an upstanding overflow pipe mounted in the water tank of a toilet and having a water inlet in its upper end and an outlet in its lower end, a tubular member supported on the overflow pipe having its upper end connected to the bottom of a liquid deodorant container, at deodorant outlet opening in the bottom of the container arranged to admit liquid deodorant from the container into the tubular member, a reciprocating connecting rod extending through the outlet opening in the bottom of the deodorant container, at liquid receptacle connected to the connecting rod and having a water and deodorant inlet opening in its upper end communicating with the interior of the tubular member and outlet means in its lower end, such inlet opening in the liquid receptacle being appreciably larger than the outlet means, the said liquid receptacle being mounted for reciprocating up and down move ment in the overflow pipe, spring means urging the receptacle and the connecting rod upwardly, a valve member carried by the connecting rod and arranged to close the deodorant outlet opening when the connecting rod and the receptacle are at the upper extremity of their reciprocating movement, and the tension of the spring means being such that when the combined weight of the receptacle and the liquid therein increases to a predetermined extent as the water and deodorant enter the same, the connecting rod, the valve member and the receptacle will automatically move downwardly, whereby the valve member will open the deodorant outlet opening in the deodorant container, and a water inlet pipe arranged to convey water to the inlets of the overflow pipe and the receptacle.

2. In a deodorant releasing device for toilets, an upstanding overflow pipe mounted in the water tank of a toilet and having a water inlet in its upper end and an outlet in its lower end, a liquid deodorant container supported above the overflow pipe and having a deodorant outlet opening arranged to discharge deodorant into the inlet of the overflow pipe, a vertical reciprocating connecting rod extending through the deodorant outlet opening, a valve member carried by the connecting rod and arranged to close the deodorant outlet opening when the connecting rod is in the upper extremity of its reciprocating movement, a liquid receptacle mounted for up and down reciprocating movement in the overflow pipe and having its upper end secured to the connecting rod, the said receptacle having liquid inlet means in its upper end in communication with the inlet of the overflow pipe and liquid outlet means in its lower end, the liquid inlet means of the liquid receptacle being appreciably larger than the liquid outlet means, whereby liquid will flow from the receptacle at an appreciably slower rate than the inflow thereof, and spring means urging the receptacle, the connecting rod and the valve member upwardly, the tension of the spring means being such that When the combined weight of the connecting rod, the valve member, the receptacle and the liquid contained therein increases to a predetermined extent the receptacle, connecting rod and valve member will move downwardly, whereby the deodorant outlet opening will be opened.

Mitchell a- July 25, 1911 Malsbary et al. Apr. 7, 1942 

